Tag: Public Thoroughfare

The Mules and their first day in Redding

Due to the fact that I had my smartphone stolen the other night while sleeping on the side of Public Thoroughfare 273 a bit south of Clear Creek, the communication between myself and the 3 Mules Facebook administrator was hindered by not having use of my phone. An accounting of yesterday’s occurrences in Redding and WinCo were not completely accurate. We offer a revised accounting of yesterday’s events.

Upon awakening at 5:30am along Public Thoroughfare 273, I discovered that my smartphone had been stolen. I then proceeded to pack up Little Girl and head to Redding City Hall about 7 miles away to deliver the Declaration of Emergency. I grazed Little Girl for about an hour on the clover at City Hall when a Redding police officer approached us, introduced himself and told us he had mules and how much he enjoyed them. We had a nice conversation about that subject on the city hall steps. Afterwards, we proceeded to WinCo.

At approximately 2:30pm, we arrived at WinCo. I tied Little Girl in the shadiest spot I could find in the WinCo parking lot, then entered the store to buy oats, a can of pineapple, black beans, diced tomatoes, a small carton of yogurt, a bagel, and carrots for Little Girl. I paid for the items, placed them in grocery cart and went back to where Little Girl was tied. I then opened up my can of pineapple and yogurt which I bought for lunch.

Shortly thereafter the WinCo security guard approached us and said that he had been watching us and we had been there long enough and had to leave immediately. We said we certainly would be leaving but not immediately.

We had been walking in the heat since 6:30am. It was 110F. Myself and Little Girl walk using our own power. We are not machines. We do not move at the same rapid effortless pace as the automobile and its occupants.

The security guard said he had called animal control and the police and they were on their way. I requested him to get the store manager. He refused. I went into the store sought out the store manager. The manager came out shortly thereafter and informed me we were fine and that there was no problem. I went back to where Little Girl was tied, continued to eat my lunch then packed up the supplies, we then left. We never had any contact with animal control or the Redding Police Department.

The experience the Mules had in Redding at the WinCo grocery store (a good store, great variety, good prices, good food) is in our mind a perfect example of the challenge the Mules face as we live in stark contrast to this age of machines and to the way and pace of living which is being imposed on all of us.

When the WinCo security guard came over to the Mules and said we had been there too long and we would have to leave immediately, he was not being mean, he was simply doing what he was trained to do – keep everything everybody moving at a pace that is set by machines.

The Mules live in respect and reverence for the Natural World and all its inhabitants and in a pace which is in stark contrast to that of the machines. The Mules cannot, will not, ever conform to the will or pace of living which the machines are now demanding. There is an epic struggle in motion between these two now most powerful forces – the Natural World and the Man-made World – as to which will win and dominate the earth.

The Mules have thrown as always throughout history all their chips to the Natural World. The Mules know that the amount of hope and faith freely given to this epic struggle will materialize into the answers needed to win this struggle.

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State Public Thoroughfare 395 (Lassen County)

On Tuesday June 6, 2017 while we the Mules of the 3 Mules Nation were moving north on Public Thoroughfare 395 towards Susanville, we met a number of people through the course of the day.

Trent – The Wild in Us – Riding the Pacific Coast Trail from Mexico to Canada on Horseback
We met Trent who stopped, introduced himself and asked what it was we were doing, what was our mission, purpose walking along state Public Thoroughfare 395. We told him we were nomadic wanderers moving north and south with the seasons, moving freely within the cloak of the Natural World when we choose and how we choose. We told him the Mules protected that most cherished, revered freedom in this country by using it all day every day and shining the light on those who work to reduce, eliminate the free movement of one’s own energy in this country.

As the conversation wound down, Trent mentioned he was a farrier (a very good one as it turned out) and he would be glad to shoe Little Girl. We accepted his offer. Trent told the Mules about his mustangs and the ride he was making from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Coast Trail. You can go to his website TheWildinUs.org to learn more.

Trent and The Mules said goodbye knowing the energy created from our meeting would at some time re-materialize in a most magical way.

Frank, Mario and John – Cycling from coast to coast across the U.S.A 
We later met Frank, Mario and John from New York on bicycle headed for Reno. They also asked us much the same questions and we gave them much the same answers. They were obviously enjoying their ride on the Public Thoroughfare as we were also enjoying our walk on the same.

We exchanged the positive energies that were harbored within us and were better off for it. We didn’t get a chance to hear about the purpose of their ride, but their website is on their t-shirts. (The photo doesn’t clearly show the website name…so Mario, Frank and John, if you see this or someone who knows them sees this, please share your website link in the comments for us.) The Mules say thank you to Mario, Frank and John for stopping and making a positive energy exchange on the Public Thoroughfare with the Mules.

The Importance of an open and free multi-use Public Thoroughfare
All of the above is a stellar example of citizens of a free country using an open and free public thoroughfare responsibly. The Public Thoroughfare when open and free engenders self-respect for oneself and all those who are met along the way. The huge amount of positive energy created by a multi-use, open and free public thoroughfare permeates and envelops the society, culture in which it weaves its way. A free country must have a strong, vibrant, open and free multi-use Public Thoroughfare in constant use by citizens that understand the Public Thoroughfare is their freedom.

The Megatropolis and its privateers have absolutely no place in the control or operation of the Public Thoroughfare. Any attempt to block and deny use of the Public Thoroughfare by those traveling by foot, bicycle, horseback or wheelchair under the guise or false pretext of safety, efficiency, comfort and ease, or other nonsense reason will not be accepted by the Mules. The Mules have been here for hundreds of thousands of years. It is the most beloved dimension to which we always return moving freely with reverence and respect for all those who inhabit this mysterious creation called Earth. We have no intention of ever doing anything else.

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The Mules and the State Park Public Resource

On May 22, 2017, the Mules crossed over Donner Pass, elevation 7135′, using Old Highway 40 and over the historic Rainbow Bridge. We went down the grade past Donner Lake. Having walked about 15 miles, we came upon Donner Memorial State Park. It was about 4pm. We decided to stop for the day and Donner Memorial State Park was the obvious place to rest for the night.

We entered the park, tied Little Girl to a lamp pole in the parking lot and went to the park’s visitor center. We approached the ranger behind the desk and asked if the Mules could spend the night. The ranger responded, “Absolutely not. Park regulations forbid any equestrian use inside this park.”

The Mules pay taxes. We pay between 9% to 10% sales tax on everything we buy. Everybody knows business doesn’t pay taxes, people do. When the Mules buy a product, they have paid most of the taxes that were levied by the State to get that product inside the store and onto the shelf.

The Mules ask only for the most bare bones use of the park. Simply put – enter the park, walk to the corner behind the maintenance yard, secure the mules to the fence, remove the packs, make the Mules comfortable for the night, put our bed roll on the ground, sleep, rise in the morning, clean up after ourselves and leave as we came living and walking with respect and reverence for the Natural World.

To deny the Mules or any equestrian this most bare bones use – pennies on the dollar cost to the Park system is blatantly illegal.

The Mules will be bringing the creative, magical energy of the nation, the Three Mule Nation, to make this request for an equestrian to use a state park to stop and rest for a night to every park by which we pass on our endless journey through time and space.

The Mules

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Sacramento, CA

While Little Girl and me were wondering which direction to go next, three Sacramento Police Officers came by, introduced themselves and expressed their curiosity as to what we were doing. So we said we were using our constitutional right to travel and move freely in anyone of all four directions, how we choose, when we choose. They said that’s cool.

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City of Ripon’s unconstitutional law

Ripon, CA

Upon arriving here last night within the city limits of Ripon, we the Mules were informed by the Ripon City Police that the Ripon City Council had recently passed a no camping law forbidding anybody traveling by foot, bicycle or horseback from stopping anywhere within city limits of Ripon on public space to sleep for the night.

Ripon City Hall

The above being understood, we the Mules have taken it upon ourselves to deliver this day 4/24/2017 Mule Proclamation number 2645-A to the Ripon City Council.

PROCLAMATION #2645-A states:

Anybody traveling by foot, bicycle, horseback, crutches or wheelchair using their own physical resources to do said within the constitutional boundaries of the United States is doing so under the constitutional guarantees to move freely in anyone of all four directions, how you choose, when you choose. Stopping to sleep for the night is a necessary component for our right to move freely. For if the necessary function of sleep is denied, all other human activity and living experience is also being denied. To put it short and sweet without sleep, you die.

The Mules have come to the inevitable conclusion we cannot obey this law for to do so will be our death.

For any municipality and its city officials within the constitutional boundaries of the United States to spring forward and declare this most necessary function to life itself sleeping to be illegal and subject to heavy fines and jail time is a slap in the face in blatant disregard to all those who have given life and limb throughout this country’s history to protect and preserve humanity’s God given right to move freely.

The Mules will not give up this right. We’ve been here for hundreds of thousands of years. We haven’t given it up then nor will we now. The Mules invite the mayors and city council members of the many towns which the Mules will be traveling through to send their explanations and justifications as to why they have passed the no camping law in their town. The Three Mule Nation will be interested to hear the rational for enactment of such laws to be used against people traveling via non-motorized vehicles by foot, bicycle, horse. The Mules will gladly post their response in its entirety on our website 3Mules.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

The Mules

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The Public Thoroughfare

Highways are Public Thoroughfares. They are the means by which the Mules or anybody else moves freely from one place to the next. The Public Thoroughfare is public for the general public. It cannot be claimed exclusively by any singular use – in particular the high speed machines be they private or commercial.

Anybody traveling by horse, bike or foot all day has the absolute common sense right to stop and rest on the Public Thoroughfare. Any law, regulation or constructing the thoroughfare to limit its use to any one venue over others is absolutely illegal.

The Mules will continue to use the Public Thoroughfare to move freely and responsibly in all ways applicable to our nomadic way of life. We have been here for hundreds of thousands of years and will remain here for hundreds of thousands more.

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Gallstones – surgery required

The Mules have been limited in our mobility and long distance walking due to severe pain. On Wednesday, we headed west along the Kern River headed for the medical center to see the urologist. It seems we have a gallstone the size of a golf ball. Surgery scheduled to get it out. While we are under anesthesia, the doctor will also look at our enlarged prostate.

Will we then be looking for a golf course? No we will continue our ages old sacred way of life spontaneously wandering in one of all four directions how we choose, when we choose. One nation, the 3 Mules Nation, under God with liberty and room for all who know the extreme value of the nomadic way of life which has been practiced through the ages and will continue into the span of infinity.

Photo credit: Stephanie Jabri
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California’s Nomadic Shepherds

The other day as we were heading back to Wind Wolves after getting groceries and supplies in Bakersfield, the Wild West was materializing before our eyes with a large amount of sheep tracks and droppings left everywhere.

Curious about where these sheep came from and where they were going, we did a Google search on “Bakersfield sheep” and an interesting Los Angeles Times article returned called “End of a Tradition: Young Basque Shepherds No Longer Flock to Calif.” The article discusses the Basque immigrants who have been coming to California for over 100 years to herd sheep as few Americans want these jobs.

What caught our eye in this article the description of Aleman and his nomadic life as a shepherd in California.

“For 21 years Aleman has lived the lonely, nomadic life of a California shepherd. After the winter lambing, Aleman spends April and May in the Mojave Desert watching his flock during spring grazing. He spends his summers on the mile-high meadows of the Owens Valley on the slopes of the Sierra. In the fall, he returns to the Kern County foothills.”

“At one time, Aleman and the other shepherds lived in tents and followed their flocks’ peregrinations by foot over the century-old California Sheep Trail. It was one of the longest animal drives in the nation–400 miles over the Tehachapis to Mojave, up past Lone Pine and Bishop to the high mountain summer meadows of the Sierra and then back to Kern County.”

“We adapted to the loneliness of shepherding better than a lot of people because most of us are from very small villages with few neighbors. We grew up with the isolation.”

Maybe sometime in the future, the Mules will find and explore this 400-mile trail. Have any of our readers ever traveled the California Sheep Trail? If so, tell us about it.

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